Whirlpool bath

ABSTRACT

A self-contained whirlpool bath comprises an outer casing having an inner shell and a seat therein with an access door to said shell. Hot and cold water connections to the main supply are controlled by taps on an instrument panel and a steam generator provides steam through pipes below water level. A pair of rotors or agitators are provided operated by electric motors, also below the water level thus giving the necessary whirlpool action to the water within said enclosure.

Unite States Patent 1 1 Miklovic 1 Nov. 5, 1974 l l WHlRLPOOL BATH [76] Inventor: John Miltlovic, 95 Willow Point Rd.,

Winnipeg. Manitoba, Canada [221 Filed: Aug. 24, 1973 l Appl. No.: 391,308

[52] US. Cl. 128/66 1511 Int. Cl A61m 9/00 58 Field of Search 128/66, 24.], 371, 365,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2.714725 8/1955 Boone 128/66 UX 2.733711 2/1956 Gibson Lancaster 128/66 I 1752.156 8/1973 Wack .t 128/66 Primary ExaminerLawrence W. Trapp Attorney, Agent, or Firm--Stanlcy G. Ade

[57] ABSTRACT A self-contained whirlpool bath comprises an outer casing having an inner shell and a seat therein with an access door to said shell. Hot and cold water connections to the main supply are controlled by taps on an instrument panel and a steam generator provides steam through pipes below water level. A pair of rotors or agitators are provided operated by electric motors, also below the water level thus giving the necessary whirlpool action to the water within said enclosure.

8 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures WHIRLPOOL BATH BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to new and useful improve ments in whirlpool baths and is particularly'suited for use in a whirlpool bath designed for home use inasmuch as it is completely self-contained. Theretofore such baths were only available in commercial establishments or hydratherapy sections of rehabilitation hospitals and the like. Attempts have been made to supply whirlpool action to conventional household baths but these usually consist only of a supply of air bubbled into the water to give some agitation to the contents of the bath.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention overcomes all of the disadvantages inherent with the well known conventional whirlpool baths by providing a completely self-contained unit which is easily connected to a source of power, a source of hot and cold water and to a drain.

The principal object and essence of the invention is therefore to provide a device of the character herewithin described which is designed primarily for use in the home and which furthermore supplies full whirlpool action to the user.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the character herewithin described which includes a couple of whirlpool agitators one adjacent the lower back of the user and the other adjacent the upper side of the legs of the user thus giving full whirlpool action where usually required.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a device of the character herewithin described which includes a steam generator so that steam can be bubbled through the water within the bath if desired.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a device of the character herewithin described which includes an instrument panel whereby full control is maintained by the occupant thus obviating the need for an attendant.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a device of the character herewithin described which is simple in construction, economical in manufacture and otherwise well suited to the purpose for which it is designed.

With the foregoing object in view, and such other or further purposes, advantages or novel features as may become apparent from consideration of this disclosure and specification. the present invention consists of the inventive concept which is comprised, embodied, embraced. or included in the means, method, process, product, construction, composition, arrangement of parts, or new use of any of the foregoing, herein exemplified in one or more specific embodiments of such concept. reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which:

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a side section of view substantially along the line ll of FIG. 2.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the whirlpool bath.

In the drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different figures.

LII

DETAILED DESCRlPTION Proceeding therefore to describe the invention in detail, reference character 10 illustrates a cabinet which is substantially rectangular when viewed in plan and also rectangular when viewed in side and end elevations. This cabinet consists of a rear panel 11, a front panel 12, base panel 13, and side panels 14.

An upper panel 15 extends from the front panel 12 rearwardly towards the rear panel 11 and is apertured to receive a sealed plastic shell 16 which is preferably molded from a glass fibre material or from one of the well known plastics depending upon design parameters.

The upper panel 15 borders this shell as indicated at 17 and the shell is provided with a perimetrical flange 18 which overlies the edges of the aperture within which the shell is fitted.

The shell consists of an upper body portion 19 and a lower leg portion 20, the leg portion inclining downwardly and forwardly within the cabinet and the shell forms the enclosure within which the occupant may be seated, a plastic seat 21 being provided for this purpose at adjacent the junction between the leg portion 20 and the upper body portion 19. Brace members 22 may be provided if necessary under the sloping base 23 of the leg portion to support the enclosure within the cabinet.

An access door 24 is provided through one side 14 of the cabinet and through one side of the shell 16, said door being sealable when closed in the usual manner.

As this manner of sealing is well-known, it is not be-' lieved necessary to show further details thereof.

A hot water connection 25 is provided in the front wall 12 of the cabinet together with a cold water connection 26 and these connections may be connected to hot and cold water supply lines (not illustrated) in the conventional manner.

A pipe 27 extends from the hot water connection 25 to a tap or control valve 28 mounted within an instrument panel 29 which in turn is supported upon the upper panel 15 of the cabinet just forwardly of the shell 16 so that it can be reached readily by the occupant seated within the shell or enclosure.

From the tap or valve 28, a further pipe or line 27 extends to a hot water inlet 30 situated within the shell 16 adjacent the forward upper end of the leg portion 20 thereof as clearly shown in FIG. 1..

A pipe or conduit 31 extends from the cold water connection upwardly to a T junction 32, one branch passing through a valve or tap 33 on the instrument panel 29, the other branch passing to a valve or tap 34 also on the instrument panel 29. A pipe 35 extends from the valve or tap 33 to a horizontally disposed multi-apertured discharge pipe 36 situated across the door 24. A similar discharge pipe'36 is situated horizontally on the opposite side of the shell so that cold water may spray outwardly towards the center of the upper body portion 19 when tap 33 is manipulated.

A further conduit 37 extends from the other tap or valve 34 to a one way valve 38 situated adjacent a conventional steam generator 39 which in turn is mounted within the cabinet above the foot or leg portion 20 of the enclosure 16. As this steam generator is conventional, it is not believed necessary to showfurther dein turn connects with a pair of multi-apertured pipes 42 situated one upon each side of the leg portion and adjacent the base 23 thereof.

A pair of agitating propeller assemblies collectively designated 43 and 43A are provided, each assembly being driven by an electric motor 44 which in turn is connected to a source of power (not illustrated) and operated by means of switches 45 mounted on the instrument panel.

The propeller assembly 43 consists of a propeller 46 mounted upon a shaft 47 supported in bearings 48 within the wall of the enclosure 16, said shaft being sealed to prevent water from passing thereby. The shaft is connected directly to electric motor 44 as clearly illustrated.

In the case of the assembly 43A, and due to space limitations, the electric motor 44 is operatively connected to the propeller 46 by means of a belt and pulley assembly 49 as clearly illustrated. Finally a drain tube 50 extends from the lower end of the enclosure 16 to the exterior of the casing or cabinet 12, valve 51 being provided to open and close same and being connected by means of a flexible cable assembly 52, to a control 53 also mounted on the instrument panel 29.

ln operation, the occupant is seated upon seat 21 with his legs extending into the leg portion 20.

By manipulating the various taps and valves, hot and- /or cold water may be entered into the enclosure up to at least the level indicated by reference character 54.

Agitator propeller assemblies 43 and 43A may be then operated. as desired and, if necessary, steam may be fed through the pipes 42.

When the treatment is completed, the enclosure may be drained through valve 51, it being understood that the drain is connected to a convenient source of water disposal, If. desired, a cold water shower may then be initiated through the multi-aperatured pipes 36.

lf desired, steam from pipes 42 may be used first with a sliding closure (not illustrated) being used to close a flexible plastic cover 19A. Cold water spray may be used during this phase by means of pipes 36.

From the foregoing it will be seen that a selfcontained portable whirlpool shower assembly has been provided particularly adapted for home use and which furthermore gives sufficient flexibility so that a variety of treatments can be given to the occupant.

Various modifications may be constructed or performed within the scope of the inventive concept disclosed. Therefore what has been set forth is intended to illustrate such concept and is not for the purpose of limiting protection to any herein particularly described embodiment thereof.

What l claim as my invention is:

l. A whirlpool bath comprising in combination a cabinet, a waterproof plastic shell in said cabinet defining an enclosure within which an occupant may be seated, a seat in said enclosure for said occupant, a hot water supply line communicating with said enclosure, a cold water supply line communicating with said enclosure, a steam generator in said cabinet and a steam supply line extending from said generator to said enclosure, and at least one agitator propeller assembly for supplying whirlpool action to the water in said enclosure and a source of power for said propeller assembly.

2. The bath according to claim 1 in which said cold water supply includes a pair of multi-apertured discharge pipes situated horizontally one upon each side of said enclosure.

3. The bath according to claim 2 in which said steam supply line includes a pair of multi-apertured pipes one upon each side of said enclosure and adjacent the base thereof.

4. The bath according to claim 3 in which said enclosure includes an extending leg portion and a body portion communicating therewith, said seat being in said body portion substantially at the junction between said body portion and said leg portion, a pulsating propeller assembly situated within said shell just above said seat whereby the action thereof impinges upon the back of the occupant, a second pulsating propeller assembly situated in said leg portion of said enclosure adjacent the upper side of said leg portion, the action of which impinges upon the legs of the occupant and a drain in said shell for draining the water therefrom.

5. The bath according to claim 1 in which said steam supply line includes a pair of multi-apertured pipes one upon each side of said enclosure and adjacent the base thereof.

6. The bath according to claim 5 in which said enclosure includes an extending leg portion and a body portion communicating therewith, said seat being in said body portion substantially at the junction between said body portion and said leg portion, a pulsating propeller assembly situated within said shell just above said seat whereby the action thereof impinges upon the back of the occupant, a second pulsating propeller assembly situated in said leg portion of said enclosure adjacent the upper side of said leg portion, the action of which impinges upon the legs of the occupant and a drain in said shell for draining the water therefrom.

7. The bath according to claim 1 in which said enclosure includes an extending leg portion and a body portion communicating therewith, said seat being in said body portion substantially at the junction between said body portion and said leg portion, a pulsating propeller assembly situated within said shell just above said seat whereby the action thereof impinges upon the back of the occupant, a second pulsating propeller assembly situated in said leg portion of said enclosure adjacent the upper side of said leg portion, the action of which impinges upon the legs of the occupant and a drain in said shell for draining the water therefrom.

8. The bath according to claim 2 in which said enclosure includes an extending leg portion and a body portion communicating therewith, said seat being in said body portion substantially at the junction between said body portion and said leg portion, a pulsating propeller assembly situated within said shell just above said seat whereby the action thereof impinges upon the back of the occupant, a second pulsating propeller assembly situated in said leg portion of said enclosure adjacent said shell for draining the water therefrom. 

1. A whirlpool bath comprising in combination a cabinet, a waterproof plastic shell in said cabinet defining an enclosure within which an occupant may be seated, a seat in said enclosure for said occupant, a hot water supply line communicating with said enclosure, a cold water supply line communicating with said enclosure, a steam generator in said cabinet and a steam supply line extending from said generator to said enclosure, and at least one agitator propeller assembly for supplying whirlpool action to the water in said enclosure and a source of power for said propeller assembly.
 2. The bath according to claim 1 in which said cold water supply includes a pair of multi-apertured discharge pipes situated horizontally one upon each side of said enclosure.
 3. The bath according to claim 2 in which said steam supply line includes a pair of multi-apertured pipes one upon each side of said enclosure and adjacent the base thereof.
 4. The bath according to claim 3 in which said enclosure includes an extending leg portion and a body portion communicating therewith, said seat being in said body portion substantially at the junction between said body portion and said leg portion, a pulsating propeller assembly situated within said shell just above said seat whereby the action thereof impinges upon the back of the occupant, a second pulsating propeller assembly situated in said leg portion of said enclosure adjacent the upper side of said leg portion, the action of which impinges upon the legs of the occupant and a drain in said shell for draining the water therefrom.
 5. The bath according to claim 1 in which said steam supply line includes a pair of multi-apertured pipes one upon each side of said enclosure and adjacent the base thereof.
 6. The bath according to claim 5 in which said enclosure includes an extending leg portion and a body portion communicating therewith, said seat being in said body portion substantially at the junction between said body portion and said leg portion, a pulsating propeller assembly situated within said shell just above said seat whereby the action thereof impinges upOn the back of the occupant, a second pulsating propeller assembly situated in said leg portion of said enclosure adjacent the upper side of said leg portion, the action of which impinges upon the legs of the occupant and a drain in said shell for draining the water therefrom.
 7. The bath according to claim 1 in which said enclosure includes an extending leg portion and a body portion communicating therewith, said seat being in said body portion substantially at the junction between said body portion and said leg portion, a pulsating propeller assembly situated within said shell just above said seat whereby the action thereof impinges upon the back of the occupant, a second pulsating propeller assembly situated in said leg portion of said enclosure adjacent the upper side of said leg portion, the action of which impinges upon the legs of the occupant and a drain in said shell for draining the water therefrom.
 8. The bath according to claim 2 in which said enclosure includes an extending leg portion and a body portion communicating therewith, said seat being in said body portion substantially at the junction between said body portion and said leg portion, a pulsating propeller assembly situated within said shell just above said seat whereby the action thereof impinges upon the back of the occupant, a second pulsating propeller assembly situated in said leg portion of said enclosure adjacent the upper side of said leg portion, the action of which impinges upon the legs of the occupant and a drain in said shell for draining the water therefrom. 